Archer&#39;s bow



ARCHER s BOW Filed April 3, 1963 INVENT OR JOSEPH E. HAMM 3,518,980 ARCHERS BOW Joseph E. Hamm, P.0. Box 161, Eagle Pass, Tex. 78852 Filed Apr. 3, 1968, Ser. No. 718,424 Int. Cl. F41b /00 US. Cl. 124-26 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus disclosed for launching an arrow. The apparatus has as its main part an elongated bow-shaped frame comprising three sections with two outer sections sleeved to a center section facilitating adjustment of the overall length of the frame. Each of the outer sections carries within it a coil spring that is attached at one end to the frame and at the other end to one end of a bow string. The bow string is supported by guides or rollers at the ends of the frame and the springs are positioned such that distortion of the path of the bow string between the ends of he frame, as by pulling back on it with an arrow, causes increased tension in the springs and thereby in the bow string.

This invention relates to a type of hunting and target bow particularly adaptable for use in all phases of archery. More particularly the invention relates to an apparatus or bow of a type wherein the long frame or main bow member is rigid rather than resilient and wherein the arrow derives its launching power from a source other than the inherent resiliency of the main bow member. That is, where the arrow receives its launching power from resilient or spring means, separate from, though attached to, the main bow frame. Bows, as they are conventionally thought of, have, for centuries, been made by skilled craftsmen or artisans who expended a great deal of time and care in the production of each individual bow. As labor became more expensive and production methods changed many new manufacturing techniques were developed for making bows and for reducing the number of man hours expended on each bow made. These changes were however basically in the method of production of the bow and in the material or materials used in its construction rather than its overall concept or design. Though there have been some changes in the overall concept and design of the bows these changes have, on the whole, not met with a great deal of commercial success.

It is not a complete mis-statement then to say that bows presently in popular use are not too far removed from those of the last several centuries. The bows being made today are still rather expensive to manufacture where top quality is important and the parts, if the bows are made in sections, are not readily interchangeable as most often they must be matched to one another. Moreover, bows of the conventional type referred to are not adjustable. That is, the pull or force required of the archer to draw back on the bow string in the act of launching the arrow is not adjustable. Thus, it is often necessary for an archer to have a bow with a different pulling force for use in hunting than the one he uses in target shooting. Additionally, several weights of hunting bows may be required according to the various sizes of game sought.

The present invention provides a bow that is different in concept and design from the conventional bows referred to above rather than differing only in style and method of manufacture. Briefly the bow comprises an elongated, rigid frame member which may be shaped like the main bow member of the conventional bow. Spring means, preferably coil springs, are attached to or positioned in the rigid frame and to either end of a bow string which passes over guides or rollers at each end of the frame.

United States Patent 0 3,518,980 Patented July 7, 1970 The spring means are positioned in such a manner that pulling back on the bow string causes deformation of the springs thereby exerting tension of the bow string urging it toward the normally straight configuration and thereby providing launching power for the arrow.

In a preferred embodiment, the frame is comprised of three sections with two outer sections being extendably sleeved to a center section and with means being provided for fixing them at various positions of extension. Thus, extending or lengthening the frame causes the guides to be positioned further apart and thereby the bow string placed in more tension. The effect of this lengthening is to cause the pulling power of the bow to be ad justable according to the position of extension chosen, allowing one bow to replace several of the non-adjustable types.

Since, as will be seen, readily available materials can be used in construction of the bow of the invention without further working, quality bows can be produced at considerable savings in cost of manufacture over bows of the conventional type. Moreover, parts can be easily replaced without having to be matched and as with the preferred embodiment of the bow the various sections of the frame can be easily disassembled for ease of transportation and storage.

While the novel features believed characteristics of this invention are set forth in the appended claims many of the objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more easily understood with reference to the foregoing specification and drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially broken away for clarity, of a preferred embodiment of the bow in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an expanded detailed view of the adjustment device of the bow of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the bow of FIG. 1 with parts broken away for added clarity; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an arrow especially adapted for use with the bow of FIG. 1.

Referring again to the drawings, a preferred embodiment of a bow in accordance with the present invention is shown denoted generally by the reference numeral 10. The bow shown in FIG. 1 is not intended to be to scale or in the best proportions but is shown as it is for clarity of explanation only. The bow in this particular configuration comprises an elongated main bow frame member 12 which is itself comprised of three sections. The frame 12 comprises a first tubular outer section 14, shown at the top as viewed herein, a center section 16 and a second tubular outer section 18. The center section 16 includes outwardly projecting extensions 20 and 22 which are circular in cross section and the outer sections 14 and 18 are mated in a sleeved manner over the extensions.

As the outer sections are identical, only the first or upper, outer section 14 will be described with particularity. As mentioned, the outer sections are tubular and each carries within it an elongated coil spring 24. The coil spring is preferably of constant diameter and is adapted for being placed in tension rather than compression. The spring 24 is attached at one end around a pin 26 which is fixedly carried in the interior of the tubular outer member 14. The other end 28 of the spring 24 is attached to one end 29 of a bow string 30'.

The bow string is carried at either end of the bow frame 12 over rollers or guides positioned adjacent the ends of the frame. As shown most clearly in FIG. 1, the bow string 30 passes over a roller 32 positioned adjacent the upper end of the tubular member 14. The roller 32 is rotatably carried on a pin 34 which is supported through the tube 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the bow string 30- then passes through a slot 36 in the tube, and then through a like slot 37 in the other end of the frame 12, around a roller 38 and attaches to a second coil spring 39 positioned in the lower section 18.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tubular outer section 14 which is sleeved on the extensions, of the center section 16, is slideable thereon and is connected to the center section by a wing bolt 40. The tubular section 14 includes an elongated slot 42, parallel to the axis to the tube, and connecting cross slots 43, 44, and 45 which intersect the slot 42. The slots 42, 43, 44, and 45 are just slightly wider than the diameter of the bolt 40, but not as wide as the head thereof, so that the bolt 40 can be tightened against the edges of the various slots to securely hold the tubular member 14 in relation to the center section 16. The purpose of these slots on either of the tubular members is for adjusting the tension of the bow string. Thus, when the tubular member 14 is positioned such that the wing bolt 40 is in the outermost slot as it is shown in FIG. 1, the bow is in the position of the least tension. By loosening the wing bolt 40 and rotating the tubular member 14 to bring the slot 42 into engagement with the bolt, the tubular member can then be extended and again rotated until the bolt 40 is brought into engagement with either of the slots 44 or 43. It can be easily seen then that the slot 44 would be the point of intermediate tension and the slot 43 the point of greatest tension. Of course, any number of cross slots such as those referred to as 43, 44, and 45 could be provided to give an almost infinitely variable amount of tension in the bow string.

The reason that the slots 43 and 44 are canted slightly upward as viewed in the drawing is because the tension of the springs tends to urge the tubular member 14 axially toward the center section 16 and by slanting the slots 43 and 44, the bolt 40 is urged relatively toward the ends of the slots 43 and 44 where it is positioned securely.

As shown in FIG. 1, slots, referred to generally by the reference numeral 46, are provided in the tubular section 18 identically with those just described with reference to the tubular section 14. The reason that both outer members are adjustable is so that the how will remain symmetrical at all times and for this reason the tubular members should always be adjusted such that the bolts 40 always remain in the corresponding slots for the two members.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3, a short tube is releasably fitted such as with threads on the mating portions through an opening 52 in the center section 16. As shown, the tube is positioned so that the axis thereof perpendicularly intersects the bow string 30. Thus, an arrow, such as that shown in FIG. 4, when placed through the tube will be brought into engagement with the bow string 30. It will be noted that the arrow of FIG. 4 is a special type particularly adapted for use with the guide tube 50, as the feathers at the rear of a conventional arrow would interfere with the tube.

As shown in FIG. 4, the arrow referred to above comprises an elongated shaft having a head or tip 62 at one end thereof and a mock 64 at the other end thereof. Feathers or fletchings 66 are positioned approximately midway the length of the shaft 60 such that when the arrow is positioned through the guide tube 50 with the mock 64 in engagement with a central part of the bow string 30, the rear portion 68 of the shaft 60 passes through the tube 50 and the fletching is positioned far enough forward on the shaft 60 that the arrow can be drawn back the desired distance for shooting without the fletching coming into contact with the front of the tube 50. It will be understood, of course, that the arrow shown in FIG. 4 is not necessarily in scale with the bow shown in FIG. 1. v

T o operate the bow of this invention with the arrow as shown in FIG. 4, the arrow is positioned such that the rear portion 68 of the shaft 60 extends through the guide tube 50 and the mock 64 engages the bow string 30. The bow, is then held in a conventional manner and the arrow is pulled back against the string 30 cansing it in turn to pull on the deform the springs 24 and 39. Upon releasing the string 30 from the deformed position, the springs 24 and 39 then return to the normal position shown in FIG. 1, straightening the string 30 and at the same time launching the arrow. As men tioned, the tube 50 is suitably engaged in the opening 52 through the section 16 such that it can be easily removed and the bow can be used in a more conventional manner with a conventional arrow. The center section 16 can also be formed in a more conventional manner such that one of its side surfaces is more in line with the string 30, making it more adaptable to conventional arrows.

While the present invention has been described with references to a particular embodiment thereof, it is understood, of course, that this description is not to be construed in a limiting sense. Other embodiments of the invention as well as modifications of the disclosed embodiment will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the foregoing description. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover any such modifications or embodiments as fall within the true scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An archers bow comprising:

(a) an elongated rigid bow-shaped frame,

(b) a bow string defining a path between the ends of said frame,

(0) resilent means carried by said frame and attached to each end of said bow string for exerting tension thereon when said string is deformed from a normally straight path between the ends of said frame,

(d) said frame including:

(1) An elongated center section,

(2) A first tubular outer section sleeved over one end of said center section,

(3) A second tubular outer section sleeved over the other end of said center section,

(4) Each of said tubular outer sections including an elongated slot substantially parallel to the axis thereof and a plurality of cross slots substantially normal to said elongated slot and connecting with said elongated slot, and

(5) raised means attached to said center section and passing through said slots in each of said outer sections selectively engageable by said cross slots whereby the over-all length of said frame can be adjustably varied for varying the tension in said resilient means and said bow string.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said resilient means comprises:

(a) a first spring attached at one end thereof adjacent one end of said frame, and

(b) a second spring attached at one end thereof adjacent the other end of said frame,

(c) said bow string being attached at one end thereof to the other end of said first spring and at other end thereof to the other end of said second spring.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further including guide means positioned at each end of said frame for carrying said bow string and wherein said springs are adapted for being placed in tension and are arranged such that deformation of said bow string from said normally straight path causes increased tension in said springs.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said other ends of said springs to which said bow string is attached are disposed outwardly toward the ends of said frame and wherein said bow string defines a path from said other end of said first spring, around said guide means at each end of said frame and to said other end of said second spring.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said guide means comprises a roller mounted at each end of said frame for carrying said bow string.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said raised means comprises a bolt having an enlarged shoulder of greater cross sectional area than the width of said slots, threadedly engaging a similarly threaded recess in each end of said center section.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including guide means positioned at each end of said frame for carrying said bow string and wherein said resilient means comprises first and second springs, each being connected at one end adjacent the ends of said frame and at the other end to said how string with said other ends being disposed outwardly on said frame, said how string defining a path from said other end of said first spring, around said guide means at each end of said frame and to said other end of said second spring whereby a pulling force on said bow string normal to the path thereof causes increased tension in said springs.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including an arrow guide tube connected to said center section with its axis perpendicular to the bow string when the string lies in its normally straight path.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said guide tube is removable from said center section.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said raised means is removable permitting the frame to be disassembled into three parts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,307,021 1/1943 Cordrey et a1. 2,116,650 5/ 1938 Zima 124-23 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 124-24 

